Can doffers



April l0, 1962 G. s. VAN DEUsEN CAN DOFFERS '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fi led May 12, 1960 .f s my Y V wwf/m SMMA m April 10, 1962 G. s. vAN DEUSEN 3,028,637

CAN DOFFERS Filed May l2, 1960 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIIIIIHIIHH \"IIIII i a f Y GEORGE S VAN 0505EA/ ATTORNEYS April l0, 1962 G. s. VAN DEUSEN 3,028,637

CAN DoFFERs Filed May 12. 1960 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENToR. GEORGE 5f 144A/5055 H6. 5 BYMWV, W

April 10, 1962 G. s. VAN DEUSEN CAN DOFF'ERS '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May l2. 1960 N l N N wi m mw ,a n SMWMA a R m, 5M B April 10, 1962 G. s. VAN DEUSEN CAN DOFFERS '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May l2, 1960 JNVENTOR. 650/965 5.' M4N Uff/55N A TTORNEYS April 10, 1962 G. s. VAN DEUSEN CAN DOFFERS '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed May l2, 1960 INVENTOR.

A TTORA/E Ys PIl 10, 1962 G. s. VAN Dr-:Usl-:N 3,028,637

CAN DOFFERS Filed May 12, 1960 7 Sheeis-Sheet 7 5 Il Il l 5 IN V EN TOR. G50/gaf 6T VA/v 0505EA/ 56./0 BVMW, @J

ATTORNEYS United States Patent Oiiice 3,928,637 Patented Api'. 10, 1962 3,028,637 CAN DOFFERS George S. Van Deusen, Lyndhurst, Ohio, assigner to The Warner & Swasey Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed May 12, 1960, Ser. No. 28,794 9 Claims. (Cl. 19-159) This invention relates to can doiers and particularly to can doiers which operate automatically to move a can from beneath a coiler head of a coiler mechanism when a predetermined amount of sliver has been delivered to the can from the coiler head.

ln the present invention a can doll'er of novel and improved construction is provided wherein a can is automatically removed from beneath a coiler head of a coiler mechanism when a predetermined amount of Sliver has been coiled therein and is replaced by an empty can. The improved can doiier includes a movable support and a plurality of turntables rotatably mounted on 4the support for rotatably carrying a plurality of cans which are to receive sliver from a coiler head. In the present invention the support is automatically moved when a predetermined length of sliver has been coiled into a can so that the illed can is displaced from beneath the coiler head and is replaced by an empty can which is to receive sliver from the coiler head.

Improved drive means are provided for the movable support and for the turntables. The drive means for moving the support is automatically operatively connected to the support when a measuring device such as a yardage counter has counted a predetermined number of yards of sliver delivered to a can so that the support is moved to displace the lled can from beneath the coiler head. Means are provided to automatically disconnect the drive means for the support when the support has been moved a dista-nce such that an empty can is positioned beneath the coiler head. i

In the preferred embodiment the support i's rotatably mounted Vand the drive means for the support includes a novel cam and cam follower arrangement for eiecting rotation of the support from a chain and sprocket assembly.

The drive means for rotating the turntables is preferably a reversible drive so that the direction of rotation of a can being lled is automatically periodically reversed. ln the preferred embodiment of this drive means includes a driving gear which cooperates with gear teeth formed on the peripheries of the turntables to effect rotation of the turntable supporting the can being filled.

The arrangement is such that when the drive for the support is operatively connected to the support, the turntable drive is connected So that the teeth yon the driving gear are moving in generally the same direction as the teeth on the turntable during rotation of the support. The invention also provides that the driving gear is resiliently biased toward the teeth on the turntable so that the driving gear may be moved away from the teeth when initially contacted thereby. This arrangement minimizes the possibility that the driving gear and the teeth on the turntable which is moving into position beneath the coiler head Will not be properly meshed.

The invention further contemplates an improved arrangement for automatically terminating operation of the coiler mechanism when all of the cans on the support have been filled Wtih sliver. For this purpose a switchcontrolling feeler arm is positioned to be engaged by sliver protruding out of the iirst filled can when such can is being moved in response to iilling of the last can.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a can doier of novel and improved construction which is operable automatically to move a can from beneath a coiler head when a predetermined length of sliver has been coiled therein and to position an empty can beneath the coiler head.

it is another object of the invention to provide a can doifer of novel and improved construction including a rotatably indexible support which rotatably supports a plurality of turntables for mounting a plurality of cans and means for automatically indexing the support when a predetermined length of sliver has been coiled into a can so that a lled can is displaced from beneath the coiler head and an empty can is positioned beneath the coiler head.

It is another object of the invention to provide a can doler as defined in the preceding object including novel and improved driving means for indexing the support and for rotating the turntables.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a can doi'er'as dened in the preceding object wherein the drive means for the turntables is drivingly connected to a turntable in an improved manner and operates automatically to periodically reverse the direction of rotation of the turntable driven thereby.

lt is a still further object of the invention to provide an improved coiler mechanism having a coiler head for coiling sliver into a can and a caudoi'fer which 0perates automatically to move a can support when a can is filled for positioning an empty can beneath the coiler head and means for automatically terminating operation of the coiler mechanism when the last can on the support has been iilled.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawing in which FIG. l is a view in perspective showing a coiler mechanism embodying the present invention;

FlG. 2 is a View with parts shown in sectionv of a portion of the drive means for rotating the turntables;

FIG. 3 is a View in side elevation of the portion of the drive means shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a View in top plan with parts shown inseci i tion of the remaining portion of the drive means'V for rotating the turntables;

FIG. 5 is a View taken along the line 5 5 of FIG; 4;

FIG. 6 is a view in top plan with parts shown in section of a portion of the drive means for moving the turntable support;

FIG. 7 is a view taken along the line 'i-7 of- FlG. f;

FIG. 8 is a view in top plan with parts broken away showing a part of the support, parts of the turntables mounted thereon and part of the drive means for the support;

. kFIG. 9 is a view taken along the line 9 9 of FIG.

FIG. l0 is a view in side elevation with parts broken away of a portion of the mechanism shown in FIG. l;

FIG. ll is a view taken along the line 11--11 of FIG. l0; and

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing circuits employed in the mechanism ot" the present invention.

' Although the present invention is susceptible of various embodiments, modifications and arrangements and has numerous applications, it is particularly applicable to the automatic `doiling of a can which has been iilled with sliver coiled into the can from a coiler head which receives sliver from a gill box.

Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated in FIG. l a coiler mechanism `designated generally by the numeral 1 and embodying the present invention. The mechanism 1 includes a housing 2 containing a gill box 2' which may be of conventional construction' including faller bars for combing sliver and which delivers combed sliver to a pair of nip rolls 3 which in turn delivers sliver to a coiler head 4. The coiler head may be of conventional construction and is rotatable to coil sliver through an opening in a plate 4 into a can 5 which is mounted beneath the head 4 on a movable support 6. The support 6 may mount as many cans as desired and in FIG. l three cans are shown on the support.

As will presently appear, the invention provides an irnproved can doiiing arrangement which operates such that when a can has been filled with a predetermined length of sliver delivered by the head 4, the support 6 is automatically moved to displace the lled can from beneath the head 4 and position an empty can beneath the head to receive sliver therefrom. The coiler head 4 continues to rotate during movement of the support 6 and therefore a certain length of sliver hangs over the edge of the previously filled can and extends to the next empty can which has been moved into position beneath the coiler head.

The cans 5 are preferably rotated when receiving sliver from the coiler head and for this purpose a plurality of turntables 7 for supporting the cans are mounted for rotation on the support 6 about spaced vertical axes. in the illustrated embodiment the support 6 is mounted for rotation about a vertical axis and the turntables 7 are spaced angularly about the axis of the support 6. The coiler head 4 extends generally horizontally from a vertically extending hollow column 8 displaced laterally from the support 6 and in which are mounted parts of the drive means for rotating the turntables 7. Parts of the drive for the support 6 are mounted in a housing S' adjacent the column 8. Details of the construction and mounting of the support 6 and the turntable 7 will be described hereinafter.

A measuring device of conventional construction is employed to count the number of yards of sliver delivered to the coiler head. The yardage counter is associated with a control switch which operates after a predetermined number of yards of sliver has been counted by the counter to effect a control function as will presently appear. The associated counter and control switch is contained in a box 9 adjacent the nip rolls and the counter is responsive to the revolutions of the nip rolls. Inasmuch as the associated counter and switch are of conventional construction a detailed description of these components is unnecessary. Suflice it to say that the control switch in the box 9 is set to operate when the yardage couner has measured a length of sliver delivered to the head 4 which when coiled into a can is sufiicient to fill the can to a desired level.

In the present invention improved drive means are provided for effecting rotation of the support and turntables and have parts located within the column 8 and the housing 8'. The drive means are operated under the control of the yardage counter and associated switch so that the support 6 is automatically indexed when a can is filled and so that a turntable when moved into position under the coiler head by such indexing is automatically rotated. The drive means for the turntables will be described initially.

The turntable drive means may be operated through suitable change speed gearing from the drive (not shown) which operates other parts of the mechanism such as the gill box and coiler head. This drive means is preferably of the reversible type and includes a vertically extending input shaft 11 shown in FIG. 2 within the column 8 and keyed to a sleeve 13 journaled for rotation by spaced bearings 14 secured to supports 15 which are attached to a base 16 mounted on a side wall of the column 8. A gear 17 is keyed to the sleeve 13 for rotation with the shaft 11 and meshes with a gear 1S fixed to a sleeve 19 keyed to a shaft 26 which extends parallel to the shaft 11 and which is journaled in spaced bearings 21 secured to the supports 15.

An electromagnetic clutch 22 of conventional construction is provided and may be referred to as the forward can clutch. The clutch 22 includes a solenoid 23 and a pair of cooperating clutch plates 24 and 25 with the plate 24 being secured to the solenoid 23 and with the plate 25 being slidably mounted on a splined hub keyed to shaft 26 which is spaced from and generally coaxial with the shaft 11 and which has an enlarged portion 27 journaled in bearings 2S. The plate 25 is slidable relative to the shaft 26 and when the solenoid 23 is energized the plate 25 is moved longitudinally of the shaft 26 to engage the plate 24 and effect the clutching action so that rotation of the shaft 11 is imparted to the shaft 26. A gear 30 is keyed to the portion 27 for rotation with the shaft 26 and meshes with a gear 31 attached to an enlarged portion 32 of a rotatable shaft 33 extending parallel to the shafts 11 and 26. The gear 31 meshes with a gear 34 fixed to an enlarged portion 35 of a shaft 36 coaxial with the shaft 20 and journaled by bearings 37.

An electromagnetic clutch 38 similar to the clutch 22 serves to drivingly connect and disconnect the shafts 20 and 36. The clutch 38 may be referred to as the reverse can clutch and includes an electrically energizable solenoid 39 and a clutch plate 40 secured to the solenoid 39 which cooperates with a clutch plate 41 slidably mounted on a splined hub keyed to the shaft 36. When the solenoid 39 is energized the plate 41 is moved to engage the plate and rotation of the shaft 20 is imparted to the shaft 36 and to the gear 34.

The gear 34 meshes with a gear 42 fixed to an enlarged portion 43 of a shaft 44 journaled by bearings 4S for rotation about an axis parallel to the axes of the previously described shafts. Attached to the shaft 44 at its lower end is a sleeve 46 having an extension which is positioned within a bore formed in a sleeve 47 and which is pivotally connected to the sleeve 47. A shaft 48 is secured to the sleeve 47 and is operatively connected to a main driving gear of the drive means as will presently appear.

The drive means for rotating the turntables has associated therewith a control switch 50 which is operated from a part of the drive means to periodically reverse the direction of rotation of the shaft 48 and of the main driving gear while the shaft 11 is rotating in a single direction. The switch 56 will be referred to more fully hereinafter and effects reversal of the direction of rotation of shaft 48 by periodically changing the conditions of energization of the solenoids 23 and 39 of the electromagnetic clutches so that when the solenoid 23 is energized the solenoid 39 is deenergized and when the solenoid 23 is deenergized the solenoid 39 is energized.

For the condition when the solenoid 23 is energized and the solenoid 39 is deenergized, the gear 3) is rotated from the shaft 11 which will be assumed to be rotating in a clockwise direction as viewed from the upper end of FIG. 2. As a result, the gear 31 will be rotated in a counterclockwise direction, the gear 34 in a clockwise direction and the gear 42 and the shaft 48 in a counterclockwise direction. Although the gear 17 drives the gear 1S and the shaft 20 in a counterclockwise direction. such rotation of the shaft 20 is not imparted to the gear 34 since the clutch 38 is deenergized. For the condition when the solenoid 23 is deenergized and the solenoid 39 is energized the gear Sil' cannot be driven from the shaft 11. However, the gear 34 is drivingly connected to the shaft 2() through the energized clutch 33 and is therefore rotated in a counterclockwise direction whereby the gear 42 and the shaft 48 are rotated in a clockwise direction.

As shown in FIG. 5, the shaft 43 is attached to a sleeve 60 pivotally connected to a sleeve 61 to which is keyed a shaft 62 journaled in spaced bearings 63 carried by a base 64 at the lower end of the column 8. A gear 65 is fixed to the shaft 62 in meshing engagement with a gear 66 fixed to a shaft 67 journaled for rotation about a vertical axis by needle bearings 68 supported by aoaaee? a bracket 69 which is pivotally connected to the base 64 by a stud 70. The gear 66 is the previously referred to driving gear and projects through an opening of the column 8 to mesh with gear teeth 71 formed about the periphery of each of the turntables 7. The gear 66 is positioned so that it meshes with teeth 71 of the turntable supporting the` can which is beneath the coiler head.

When the shaft 11 is rotating in a clockwise direction as viewed from the upper end of FIG. 2, and when the solenoid 23 is energized and the solenoid 39 is deenergized, the gear 66 is rotated in a clockwise direction as Viewed in FIG. 4 to eifect rotation of a turntable counterclockwise in the direction of the arrow A. When the solenoid 23 is deenergized and the solenoid 39 is energized, the turntable will be rotated in a clockwise direction.

When the support 6 is being rotated in a countcrclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 4 to move one of the turntables 7 toward the gear 66, it is desirable that proper meshing of the teeth 71 of this turntable with the gear 66 be effected when the turntable a-rrives beneath the coiler head as shown in FIG. 4. For this purpose the pivotally mounted bracket 69 engages at its free end a spring biased plunger 72 which is slidable within a bore 73 of a bracket 74 and which includes a head 75 engaging one end of a coil spring 76 located within an enlarged bore 77. The spring 76 engages at its other end a screw 7S closing the bore 77 and biases the plunger 72, the bracket 69 and the gear 66 about the axis of the stud 79 to their illustrated positions. With the described arrangement the gear 66 may be pivoted about the stud 70 against the action of the spring 76 when the gear 66 is engaged by the teeth 71 of the approaching turntable so that proper meshing of the teeth 71 with the gear 66 may be obtained. As will presently appear, the gear 66 is rotated about the axis of shaft 67 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 4 during movement of a turntable toward the gear 66 so that the teeth 71 of this turntable and the gear 66 are moving in generally the saine direction when initially engaged.

The switch Si) is of a conventional type which is operated by rotation of a shaft 88 keyed to a sleeve 81 fixed to the lower end of the shaft 26 as viewed in FIG. 3. The switch 50 controls the opening and closing of contacts S11-1 and Sti-2 (FIG. l2) connected in parallel relation between power conductors L1 and L2 in a circuit including a coil S41 of a can reverse relay. rfinis relay includes normally open contacts 841-1 and .8d-2 and normally closed contacts 84-3. As will presently ap pear, the switch 50 controls energization of the solenoids 23 and 59 so that the conditions of energization of the solenoids 23 and 39 are periodically reversed in response to rotation of the shaft Sii. A switch suitable for this purpose may be obtained from the Gernco Electric Cornpany of Detroit, Michigan, and is designated as a Gemco Rotary Limit Switch. The arrangement is such that the direction of rotation of the can to which sliver is being delivered is reversed each time the can has been rotated through a number of revolutions effective to produce one layer of sliver in the can.

Referring now to FIG. 6, there is illustrated a portion of the drive means for effecting rotation of the support 6. This drive means is located in the housing 8 and includes a sprocket 98 which may be rotated from the gill box drive through reduction gearing and which is keyed to a shaft 91 journaled in bearings 92 for rotation about a horizontal axis. The shaft91 is spaced from and coaxial with a shaft 93 journaled in bearings 94 and these shafts are drivingly connected and disconnected by a clutch 9S similar to the previously described clutches. The clutch 95 includes a solenoid 96 and a clutch plate 97 attached to the shaft 93 which cooperates with a clutch plate 98 keyed to and slidably mounted on the shaft 91. As will presently appear, the clutch 95 is energized and deener gized under the control of the yardage counterl and control switch in the box 9.

The shaft 93 has affixed thereto a worm gear 160 which meshes with a worrn wheel 101 secured to a support 102 carried by a shaft 183 shown in FIG. 7 journaled by bearings 184 in a frame structure 105 within the housing 8 for rotation about a vertical axis. The shaft 103 carries at its lower end a sprocket 1&6 which is drivingly connected to the support 6 in a manner described hereinafter. An electromagnetic brake 169 of conventional construction is provided to prevent accidental rotation of the shaft 93 and the worm gear 1411i when the clutch 95 is disengaged. The brake 189 includes a solenoid 169' energizable and deenergizable under the control of the yardage counter and its associated switch as will presently appear.

The sprocket 166 engagesr a chain 11i) which extends horizontally through an opening in the lower portion of the column S to engage a sprocket 111 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 keyed lto a sleeve 112 which is mounted for rotation by bearings 113 about a vertically extending stationary post 114 fixed to the base 115. The sleeve 112 also carries a pair of vertically spacedy cams 116 and 117 which are arranged to engage respectively pluralities of cam followers in the form of rollers 118 and 119 which are rotatably mounted o-n opposing sides of the plate 120 and which are spaced arcuately on the plate 120. The plate 128 is secured to a sleeve 121 which is mounted by bearings 122 for rotation about a stationary post 123 attached to the base 115. A gear 124 is formed on the sleeve 121 and meshes with a gear 125' operatively associated with the support 6.

T he contigurations of the cams 116 and 117 are best shown in FIG. 8. As there shown the cams are each of generally heart-shaped configuration and are secured to the sleeve 112 so `as to be spaced 'angularly relative to each other about the axis of the post 114. The cams 116 and 117 include respectively shoulders 126 `and 127 adapted to engage the rollers 118 and 119 on the plate 128. These rollers are yarranged so that the rollers 118 are mounted on the upper surface of the plate 128 and the rollers 119 are mounted on the lower surface of the plate. T-he roiiers are in alternating relation Ias viewed in FIG. 8 such that a roller 118 on the upper surface of the plate is spaced angularly about the axis of the plate from the adjacent roller 119 on the lower surface of the plate.

With the described arrangement, when the cams 116 and 117 are rotated, for example, in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 8 from the positions shown, the shoulder 127 of the cam 117 engages a roller 119 to effect rotation of the plate 1.20 in a clockwise direction. When the earns have been rotated through an angle of approximately forty-tive degrees from the positions shown the cain 117 will become disengaged from the previously engaged roller 119 and the shoulder 126 of the cam 116 will engage the Vadjacent roller 118 which has now moved into position to be so engaged. The cam 116 will continue to engage the roller 118 and effect rotation of the plate 12) until the cams have been rotated through a total angle of about one hundred and twenty degrees at which time the cam 116 wil be -disengaged `from the roiler 118 and neither cam will engage a roller. At this time the roller 118 now disengaged from cam 115 is in the position previously occupied by the roller 119 shown engaging the shoulder 127 of cam 117.

After the cam 116 is'disengaged from the roller 118 as described above, nei-ther earn engages va roller to effect rotation of plate 120 until the `cams have been rotated through a total angle of the order of two hundred and forty `degrees at which time the surface area 128 of the cam 116 engages the roller 118 previously disengaged from cam 116. Continued rotation of the cams again causes the plate 120 to rotate and the cam 117 will eventually engage the next roller 119 just before cam 116 is disengaged from the roller 118. The arrangement is such that for each complete revolution of the cams the plate 128 is rotated through an angle equal to the angle between adjacent ones of the rollers on a common side of the plate 120 or about seventy-two degrees.

Details of the support 6 may now be described. The gear 125 is formed on a sleeve 130 supported for rotation by a bearing 131 secured to the base 115. A center post 132 includes a lower portion surrounded by the sleeve 130 and the post 132 is secured to the sleeve 130 for rotation therewith -by a pin 133 extending through the sleeve and the center post. The support 6 includes a vertically extending tube 134 which surrounds the sleeve 130 and the center post 132 and through which the pin 133 also extends. Attached to the member 134 as by welding is a circular plate 135 comprising the main part of the support 6 and including a vertically extending annular ange 136. The plate 135 supports a plurality of rollers 137 (only one of which is shown in FIG. 9) which are spaced arcuately about the periphery of the plate 135 and which engage a surface of the base 115 to support the plate 135 as it rotates about its axis. Rods 137 are attached to the post 132 spaced about the axis of the post to prevent the cans from falling from the support 6 during rotation thereof.

The turntables 7 are of identical construction and are mounted on the support 6 in an identical manner. In FIG. 9 only one of the turntables is shown in detail and comprises a plate 138 having an annular shoulder 139 at its circumference and on which is positioned an annular extension 140 ofthe can 5 supported bythe turntable. The plate 133 includes a central opening through which extends a sleeve 141 rotatable by a bearing 142 land secured to a block 143 attached to the underside of the plate 13S of the support 6.

rhe switch associated with Vthe yardage counter controls contacts 144 (FiG. l2) which are normally open when a can is beneath the coiler head and is being filled with sliver so that a coil 145 of a can index relay is normally deenergized. The can index relay includes normally open contacts 145-1 and 145-2 and normally closed contacts 145-3 and 145-4.

As the coiler head coils sliver into a can the switch 50 operates to alternately open and close the contacts 50-1 and 50-2 to effect periodic reversal in the direction of rotation of the turntable supporting the can being filled. When the contacts 50-1 are open and the contacts 50-2 are closed the coil 84 of the can reverse relay is deenergized and consequently the normally open contacts 84-2 are opened and the normally closed contacts 84-3 are closed. As a result, the solenoid 23 of the forward can clutch 22 is energized and the solenoid 39 of the reverse can clutch 38 is deenergized whereby the drive for the turntable is connected so that the turntable is rotated in the forward direction which is counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 4. At this time also the normally open contacts 84-1 are opened to prevent energization of the coil 84 in the event that the contacts Sti-2 become accidentally closed.

When the switch t) operates to close the contacts 50-1 and to open the contacts Sil-2 the coil 84 is energized through the normally closed contacts 145-4. As a result, the normally open contacts 84-2 are closed and the normally closed contacts 34-3 are opened so that the solenoid 23 is deenergized and the solenoid 39 is energized. This connects the turntable drive so that the turntable supporting the can being filled is rotated in the opposite direction from that previously described.

The above described operation continues until the normally open contacts 144 are closed by operation of the switch associated with the yardage counter. Closure of the normally open contacts 144 occurs when the can has been filled with a predetermined amount of sliver and when these contacts are closed the coil 145 of the can index relay is energized to close the normally open contacts 145-1. When this occurs a sealing circuit for the coil 145 is established so that the coil 145 continues to be energized after the previously closed normally open contacts 144 again open.

At the same time, the normally open contacts -2 close to energize the solenoid 96 of the clutch 95 and the normally closed contacts 145-3 open to deenergize the solenoid 109 of the brake 1&9. As a result, the drive means for the support 6 is operatively connected to the support to effect indexing rotation thereof for moving the filled can from beneath the coiler head and moving an empty can toward a position beneath the coiler head. At this time also the normally closed contacts 145-4 open to prevent energization of the coil 84 when the contacts Sti-1 are closed during continued operation of the switch 541. Consequently, the normally open contacts 84-2 are open and the normally closed contacts 84-3 are closed during indexing of the support so that the solenoid 23 is energized and the solenoid 39 is deenergized whereby the driving gear 66 is rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 4 as the support is indexed in a counterclockwise direction. As a result, the teeth of gear 66 and the teeth 71 of the turntable supporting the empty can are moving in generally the same direction.

When the support 6 has indexed to a position wherein the empty can is positioned beneath the coiler head an arm 149 of an index stop switch `150 shown in FIG. 8 is actuated by an actuator 151 on the support. When this occurs the normally closed contacts -1 of the switch 150 are opened to interrupt the sealing circuit for the coil 145 so that this coil is deenergized and the normally open contacts 145-2 open and the normally closed contacts 145-3 close. When this occurs the solenoid 96 is deenergized and the solenoid 109' is energized whereby the drive means for the support is disconnected therefrom and the support is stopped in a position wherein the empty can is located beneath the coiler head.

lAt the same time, the normally closed contacts 145-4 close to permit energization of the coil 84 when the contacts Sti-1 close during operation of the switch 50. The operation of the mechanism now continues in the normal manner as previously described.

Means are also provided to terminate operation of the coiling mechanism when all of the cans have been filled. For this purpose a control device is provided which is shown in FIGS. 10 and ll and which includes an elongated feeler arm 155 operatively connected at one end to a control switch 156 conveniently mounted by the plate 4. The arm 155 extends from the switch in a generally horizontal direction toward the central axis of the support 6 so that the free end of the arm 155 is positioned to be engaged by a portion `157 of sliver which projects upwardly out of the first filled can. When the first tilled can is being moved to its original position beneath the coiler head during indexing of the support in response to filling of the final can, the protruding sliver portion 157 engages the arm 155 to effect operation of the switch 156.

The switch 156 includes an element 158 attached to the arm 155 and mounted by a pivot 159 for pivotal movement about a vertical axis. The element 158 and the arm 155 are biased in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1l by a spring 160. When the arm 155 is engaged by the protruding sliver portion 157, the arm 155 and the element 158 are pivoted in a clockwise direction against the action of the spring 160 to close normally open contacts 156-1. When this occurs a coil 161 of a control relay is energized whereby normally closed contacts 161-1 of this relay which prior to such time have been closed are opened. .As a result of the opening of normally closed contacts 161-1 coil 162 of a relay is deenergized so that normally open contacts 162-1 of this relay which have been closed while the mechanism has been operating are opened to deenergize a coil 163 of a motor contactor. When the coil 163 is deenergized the motor for operating the coiler mechanism is stopped to terminate operation of the mechanism.

Although the invention has been described with reference to certain specific embodiments thereof numerous modifications are possible and it is desired to cover all modifications falling within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

l. In a coiler mechanism, a rotatable support mounted for movement in a horizontal plane on a vertical axis, a plurality of turntables mounted on the support for rotation about circularly spaced vertical axes to rotatably support a plurality of cans, coiler means above the support for coiling sliver into a can mounted on one of said turntables, a pair of drive means operable respectively for moving the support and for rotating the turntables, the drive means for the support including a pair of generally heart-shaped cams iixed in vertically spaced relation for rotation about a vertical axis, said cams being angularly displaced relative to each other about their axis of rotation, a mounting device rotatable about a vertical axis intermediate the axis of the support and the axis of the cams, a plurality of cam followers rotatably mounted on the mounting device about the axis of the mounting device for engagement by said cams, said followers being mounted in vertically spaced sets such that each cam engages the followers of a separate set, control means operable automatically when a predetermined amount of sliver has been coiled into a can for operatively connecting the drive means for the support to rotate said cams for moving the support in a horizontal path relative to the coiler means, and means operable automatically when the support has been moved suiciently to position a turntable mounting an empty can beneath the coiler means for disconnecting the drive means for the support.

2. A mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein the drive means for the turntables is reversible to periodically automatically reverse the direction of rotation of the turntable supporting a can into which sliver is being coiled.

3. In a coiler mechanism, a support mounted for indexing rotation about a vertical axis, a plurality of turntables mounted on the support for rotation about vertical axes spaced angularly about the axis of the support, said turntables each being adapted to mount a can for rotation with the turntable, coiler means positioned above the support operable to deliver sliver to a can mounted on one of the turntables, a pair of drive means operable respectively for indexing the support and for rotating the turntables, the drive means for the turntables being reversible to periodically automatically reverse the direction of rotation of the turntable supporting a can into which sliver is being coiled, control means operable automatically when a predetermined length of sliver has been delivered to a can for operatively connecting the drive for the support to the support, and for connecting the drive for the turntables so that reversal of the turntable drive is prevented during indexing of the support, and means operable automatically when the support has been indexed suiiiciently to position a turntable mounting an empty can beneath the coiler means for disconnecting the drive means for the support and for permitting reversal of the turntable drive.

4. A mechanism as defined in claim 3 wherein said last named means includes a switch operable in response to rotation of the support to a position wherein an empty can is located beneath the coiler head.

5. A mechanism as defined in claim 3 wherein the drive means for the turntables includes a driving gear adapted to mesh with teeth formed on the peripheries of the turntables, said control means being operable automatically to connect the drive means for the turntables so that during indexing of the support the teeth of the driving gear are moving in generally the same direction as the teeth on the approaching turntable.

6. In a coiler mechanism, a support mounted for indexing rotation about a vertical axis, a plurality of turntables mounted on the support for rotation about vertical axes spaced angularly about the axis of the support, said 10 i Y turntables each being'adapte'd to mount a can for rotation withl the turntable, coiler means positioned above the support operable to deliver sliver to a can mounted on one of the turntables, a pair of drive means operableV respectively for indexing the support and for rot-ating the turntables, the drive means for the support including a pair of generally heart-shaped cams fixed in vertically spaced relation for rotation about a vertical axis, said cams being' angularly displaced relativev to each other about their axis of rotation, a mounting device rotatable about a vertical axis intermediate the axis of the support and the axis of the cams, a plurality of cam followers rotatably mounted on the mounting device about the axis of the mounting device for engagement by said cams, said followers being mounted in vertically spaced sets such that each cam engages the followers of a separate set, control means operable automatically when a predetermined length of sliver has been coiled into a can for operatively connecting the drive means for the support to rotate said cams for indexing the support, means operable automatically when the support has been indexed sufficiently to position a turntable mounting an empty can beneath the coiler means for disconnecting the drive means for the support, and means operable automatically in response to indexing of the support when the last can has been filled to terminate operation of the coiler mechanism.

7. In a drive mechanism, a turntable mounted for rotation about a iirst axis, a pair of generally heart-shaped camsrmounted for rotation about a second axis parallel to the first axis, said cams being fixed in axially displaced relation along the second axis and being angularly displaced relative to each other about the second axis, a mounting device rotatable about a third axis parallel to and intermediate the iirst and second axes, a plurality of cam followers rotatably mounted on the mounting device and spaced about the lthird axis for engagement by the cams, said followers being mounted in axially spaced sets such that each cam engages the followers of a separate set, means for rotating said cams, and means operatively connecting said mounting device to said turntable.

8. In a coiler mechanism, a rotatable support mounted on a vertical axis for step by step indexing movement in a horizontal plane to a plurality of successive indexed positions, a plurality of turntables mounted on the support for rotation independently thereof about a circularly spaced vertical axis to support a plurality of cans rotatable with the turntables, coiler means above the support for coiling sliver into the can that is mounted on the turntable located beneath the coiler means in each indexed position of said support, a pair of drive means operable respectively for indexing the support and for rotating the turntable currently in indexed position beneath the coiler means, the drive means for the last mentioned turntable being reversible to periodically automatically reverse the direction of rotation of said turntable, said drive means for the turntable in indexed position of the support including a driving gear adapted to mesh with teeth formed on the periphery of the said turntable, control means operable automatically when a predetermined amount of sliver has been coiled into the can on the turntable that is in indexed position for operatively connecting the drive means for the support to index the support, andl means operable auto-y matically when the support has been indexed for disconnecting the drive means for the support, said control means being operable automatically to also connect the drive means to the turntable that is moving into indexed position during the indexing of the support such that the teeth of the driving gear in the drive to said turntable are moving in generally the same direction as the teeth on the periphery of the turntable which is approaching indexed position.

9. In a coiler mechanism as defined in claim 6 and wherein said means operable automatically in response to the indexing of the support when the last can has been lled to terminate operation of the coiler mechanism includes a feeler arm engageable with sliver protruding from the first filled can when the support is indexibly rotated in response to the filling of the last can for terminating the operation of the coiler mechanism.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Naumberg Ian. 26,

McGinnis Apr. 11,

` Curtis July 17,

FOREIGN PATENTS France .lune 19,

France May 15, 

